A few minutes later, Lin Chuan finally sat up from the bench, rubbing his head and feeling groggy.

"Bro, you're finally awake."

Lin Chuan looked up to see his sister standing beside him with a complex expression. He glanced around dazedly, clutching his throbbing head. It took him a moment to realize where he was.

"What... what just happened?"

Lin Chuan strained to recall. He remembered testing Feng Ye's strength. Then, during the fusion of his War Spirit and Divine Artifact... Feng Ye had knocked him out with a brick.

"I actually lost that easily?"

Even now, it felt unreal—like a dream. Feng Ye moved too fast. Before Lin Chuan could react, he was already behind him. The fight ended in under a second. Unbelievably quick...

So quick their clash drew no crowd in this busy spot. Only a few nearby noticed the War Spirit's glow—just in time to see Lin Chuan get bricked unconscious.

"Hmm, you seem recovered. Probably no lasting side effects," Feng Ye said, appearing with an ice cream cone. He handed another to Lin Tang.

"Holy crap!" Lin Chuan jumped up like he'd seen a ghost. He glared at Feng Ye and his sister with deep indignation. "You two..."

"Couldn't you have brought me one too!?"

...

"Thank you for your patronage."

Lin Chuan trudged alone to the ice cream truck. By the time he returned, the pair in the rest area were nearly done. Lin Tang delicately licked cream off her fingers with her cute little tongue. A guy doing that would be gross—but on adorable little Lin Tang, it was oddly alluring.

Spotting her gaze on his cone, Lin Chuan quickly licked it all over. "Mine. Don't even think about it."

Lin Tang made a disgusted face. She shot her clueless brother a resentful glare.

Lin Chuan ignored her, smugly enjoying his ice cream. He turned to Feng Ye curiously. "Bro Feng Ye, how'd you vanish and reappear behind me? I didn't see a thing. Your speed was insane! Some special combat skill?"

Feng Ye thought a moment. "Not really a combat skill. Just simple Spirit Energy technique."

Truth was, his sudden move relied on monstrous physique and a dash of Spirit Energy—using a simplified Soulstep.

Soulstep was created by a genius teammate of Feng Ye's. Mastered fully, it rivaled teleportation. But it strained the body terribly. Even its creator rarely used it consecutively. Only Feng Ye's freakish body could handle it. She'd resignedly realized it was tailor-made for him.

Lin Chuan's eyes lit up. "Can you teach me?"

"Idiot brother!" Lin Tang kicked his shin.

"Ow!" Lin Chuan yelped, glaring sullenly. "What was that for?"

Lin Tang stared like he was an idiot. "Don't you know advanced Spirit Energy techniques cost exchange points?! Who just gives away secrets like you, fool!" She turned apologetically to Feng Ye. "Sorry. My dumb brother's like this. Glasses make him look smart, but his brain's pitifully small."

Lin Chuan's nose nearly twisted in rage. "What sister says that?!"

Before he finished, Lin Tang stomped his foot. He screamed—then dropped his cone while clutching his foot. His scream turned to a wail.

"My ice cream!"

"I only licked it once!"

Lin Tang wore an "I don't know this guy" expression and stepped meters away.

Feng Ye chuckled at the siblings. "It's fine. Just a simple Spirit Energy trick. I can teach you both if you want."

Lin Chuan forgot his lost ice cream instantly. "Really?"

"Mm."

Lin Chuan shot his sister a smug look. Lin Tang pouted, but her clear eyes studied Feng Ye suspiciously. His earlier speed proved that technique wasn't simple—it was precious. Yet he offered it freely. Why?

"Could it be because I'm too cute..." she mused, tilting her head.

Feng Ye then taught them the simplified Soulstep. The principle was straightforward—special Spirit Energy applications. The Lin siblings had solid basics, so they grasped it fast. Lin Chuan rushed to test it after the lesson. After ten tries, he succeeded once. His speed jumped over ten percent—not Feng Ye's monstrous level, but satisfying.

The only flaw...

After that single use, Lin Chuan looked drained. His face paled like paper. His steps turned wobbly... He nearly collapsed.

...